Pastoral Ministry

About Pastoral Ministry

"The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few." (Matthew 9:37) The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus with vigor and compassion and clarity, drawing all people to Christ in faith and hope and love. Its task is nothing less than active participation in the building of the Kingdom of God. Such an urgent mission requires the full hearted engagement of every member of the Church. US bishops have noted a pressing need for ministers with "a special level of professional competence and presence to the community... [whose] roles often require academic preparation, certification, credentialing and a formation that integrates personal, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral dimensions." (Co-Workers in the Vineyard, 12). The Theology department offers the Pastoral Ministry major to meet this growing need by providing such preparation for ministry in and for the Church.

A deep engagement with the broad educational vision of a liberal education and a passionate commitment to hands-on service to Christ and his church grounds the Pastoral Ministry major. Its curriculum blends immersion in the great ideas and stories, the pivotal thinkers and seminal images of western culture, with the best of contemporary Catholic thinking and practice regarding pastoral ministry. Pastoral Ministry majors enjoy the life changing dialogue with art, literature, philosophy, politics, science and history fostered by a demanding core curriculum. At the same time, they interact with skilled and dedicated ministry professionals, study contemporary ecclesial documents regarding specific ministries and identify and sharpen skills for service through practical application.

Degrees in Pastoral Ministry

Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry

Pastoral Ministry Concentration

Course Information

Courses in Pastoral Ministry